Community Service

Life Through Service

Service to others is the cornerstone on which Indian Mountain School was built more than 90 years ago. Every member of the IMS community is encouraged to live the school motto, life through service.

Teachers, advisors, coaches, and administrators guide and challenge students to participate in community service projects that benefit others in our school, our local towns, and the world at large. We walk miles to combat world hunger, shoot hoops to collect food for our local food pantry, and empty our piggy banks to donate to animal shelters. Students routinely volunteer their free time and talents to participate in fundraisers and benefit concerts for many different charities and child-centered organizations. They also create cards and artwork for people who need support, visit nearby nursing homes and hospitals, and participate in our schoolwide recycling program.

Children learn to think of others, to consider how their actions affect others, and to help make a difference in their community. Our goal is to support the moral growth and personal development of each student as they embrace the values of compassion and respect for others.

Meet Our Community Service Department

List of 1 members.

Sheryl Knapp

Sheryl Knapp received her B.A. in Mathematics/Education from Gettysburg College and, later, her M.A. from Fairfield University in Instructional Computer Science. During her years of teaching, she has taught mathematics and computers and coached various sports at the following schools: Saxe Middle School in New Canaan, CT; New Canaan Country School in New Canaan, CT; Salisbury School in Salisbury, CT; and Albany Academy for Girls in Albany, NY. She began teaching at Indian Mountain School in 2000. She serves as the Math Department Chair, Upper School math teacher and co-advisor of the Community Service program. Previously at IMS she had taught the fifth and sixth grade computer classes. Sheryl and her husband, Mark, are the proud parents of Keri '03 (Hotchkiss School '06 and Gettysburg College '10), Kelsey '06 (Berkshire School '10 and Gettysburg College '14), and Erika '16. Sheryl and her family moved off of the IMS campus in 2006. When not at school, Sheryl can be found on the tennis courts or engaged in some other activity with her family, such as bike riding, hiking, boating, or gardening.

List of 1 items.

Students earn Kudos for a wide range of contributions, such as volunteering to help clean up after a weekend activity, making a substantial effort to improve in academics, or helping another student in some significant way. Faculty and staff are likewise recognized, and all receive a personal letter from the head of school. A step above Kudos is the Mountain Card, a high honor for exceptional efforts by an individual or small group on behalf of the community.

I'm in my senior year at Middlebury College, and it is amazing to think how far I have come! At Midd, I have had the opportunity to serve on the board of the African American Alliance as well as Distinguished Men of Color, two of the cultural orgs on campus. The time served on these boards has led me to many amazing things, one of them being the opportunity to lead an alternative spring break trip to South Carolina, where I, along with other Middlebury students, will be leading mentor groups with students in a middle school in Society Hill, SC. This opportunity is so exciting and is another way for me to spread what I have learned all these years. I thank all those who influenced me at Indian Mountain, and for instilling into me our motto, life through service!